Monk aims to spoil van Gaal's opening-day Old Trafford party by proving that both he and Swansea belong in the Premier League.

Monk insists he has to prove himself more than his celebrated counterpart after he was finally appointed on a permanent basis in May following three months as interim boss in the wake of Michael Laudrup's departure.

"I think I probably need to prove myself a bit more than he does after the career he has had," Monk said.

"He is in a different situation to me. He is at one of the biggest clubs in the world and at that level the importance of winning trophies is massive so that is a different type of pressure.

"My pressure comes from my experience being questioned, and that is a different type of question."